eChapters

This chapter is an attempt to introduce basic facts about earthquake generation and the role of earthquakes in triggering secondary geohazards. Earthquake, unlike manyother geohazards is yet to be fully understood towards occurrence and magnitude for better mitigation measures. Though unpredictibility of this hazard makes it dangerous, earthquakes seldom kill lives. Instead, poor ability of man-made structures against ground-shaking waves has been the real cause of life loss and damage to property in most of the earthquake incidences. Furthermore, earthquakes generate secondary geohazards such as landslide, failure of dams and reservoirs, etc. Thus, earthquake, as a natural hazard has its own characteristic way of potential impactand hence classifying vulnerability of different regions and creating awareness on potential impact among common public is essential.

INTRODUCTION

The term “earthquake” denotes “shaking/vibration/trembling/ quivering/shuddering/ wobbling of Earth”. Earthquake is the quickest and most unpredictable natural hazard. It is nothing but a series of suddenly generated elastic waves occurring in the Earth due to internal and/or external causes from shallow (few kilometers) to about 700 kilometers depth. It is a form of motion of wave energy transmitted through the surface layer (crust) of the Earth. One generalization that can be made out of scientific and mainstream media information about earthquakes is that, “earthquakes seldom kill; but the associated phenomena such as landslides, flooding, volcanic eruptions and collapse of natural and man-made structures cause the real damage to lives and property”. This chapter is an attempt to describe the basic elements of earthquakes and few mitigation measures.

Introduction

Earthquakes are the most destructive among all the natural hazards. Most of the time, they occur without any warning, which makes them most feared and unpredictable natural phenomena. Globally, on an average two earthquakes of magnitude 8 are known to occur every year. Some of the countries like Japan, China and United States have suffered several damaging earthquakes in the past. India has also experienced a number of high intensity earthquakes in the recent past and more than 650 earthquakes of magnitude >5.0 have been reported in India since 1890. Sixty-nine earthquakes in Delaware (U.S.A.) have been documented or suspected since 1871. Refer to Baxter (2000) for more details about the DGS Seismic Network and for documentation of earthquakes. In the 1930s Charles Richter developed a magnitude scale (Richter scale) which was an objective way of discriminating between large and small shocks using the seismic wave amplitude recorded by seismographs (Richter, 1958).

Introduction

Reservoirs constitute the prime inland fishery resource in the country by virtue of their numerous production potential. These man-made ecosystems offer enough scope for stock manipulation through ecological maneuvering, paving the way for production hikes at a relatively low-capital investment. Unlike the aquaculture systems, where the development is capital intensive, a reservoir fishery development is labour productive and ensures employment for some of the weakest sections of our society.

8.1 Economic Geology and Ore Mineralogy

8.1.1 Economic geology

Economic Geology deals with the comprehensive study of mineral deposits including their processes of formation and uses. By applying the principles of geology, a mining engineer is able to exploit such deposits profitably for the use of Man.

8.1.2 Ore mineral

An ore is a term applied usually to that part of a metalliferous mineral deposit that can be utilized profitably as a source of one-or-more metals, this term now is widely used for the usable part of many non-metallic (non-metalliferous mineral) deposits, like barite, fluorite, sulphur, etc.

8.1.3 Gangue mineral

An ore is usually a mixture of one or more usable minerals (ore minerals) and one or more unusable minerals (gangue minerals). The usual gangue minerals are quartz and other forms of silica, calcite, dolomite, siderite, barite, feldspars, garnet, chlorite, kaolin, fluorite, apatite, pyrite, pyrrhotite, arsenopyrite, and sometimes the gangue material is the country rock or host rock itself in which the ore minerals occur. Sometimes, the gangue minerals may also be utilized as by-products of the ore deposit. The nature and proportion of the gangue influence the economic value of an ore to a great extent.

Environment: Environment means “surrounding”. First definition of environment was given by “Ernst Haeckel”. According to this - The relation between all organic and inorganic atmosphere of any animal is called environment.

Introduction
An ecosystem is any unit that consists of all the creatures, or communities, in a certain area that interact with the physical environment to produce a trophic structure, biodiversity, and material cycle within the system. Various biosphere ecosystem types are
1) Natural ecosystems
2) Man-made ecosystems
Natural Ecosystems
Under natural conditions, these ecosystems function independently with little to no significant human intervention. These are further separated as follows based on the specific type of habitat:
• Terrestrial: grasslands, deserts, and forests
• Aquatic (open to the water), which is further subdivided into

Introduction
• Biosphere: Living things and the non-living systems that support them in their surroundings are intricately linked and mutually influence one another. Living things inhabit a comparatively small sphere that spans the surface of the globe, measuring less than 20 km in thickness and spanning roughly 8 km above and 10 km below sea level. The biosphere is the thin layer of soil, water, and land that covers the surface of the world. The land (lithosphere), the water (hydrosphere), and the air (atmosphere) are its three non-living constituents.
• Lithosphere: The solid portion of the earth is made up of the rocks and soil found both underneath and on the surface. About 4.6 billion years ago, a hot ball of substance gave rise to the earth and the lithosphere. Just eight of the 92 elements that make up the lithosphere are frequently found in crystal rocks. Of these components, 47% are oxygen, 28% are silicon, 8% are aluminum, and 5% are iron. The other ingredients are calcium, magnesium, sodium, and potassium, each making up 4%. When rocks break down, they create soil, which is what humans need for agriculture.
• Hydrosphere: The hydrosphere is the area of the earth that is covered in water. It encompasses 0.7 of the planet’s area. Only a minorportion  of the hydrosphere is made up of fresh water; the majority of the hydrosphere is made up of the marine ecosystem

Introduction

The town Paithan is famous by it’s name Dakshin Kashi. Godavari river has pristine glory and great significance for Hindus.

Nath temple is situated on the bank of Godavari river. It is a holy place and that’s why it becomes a place of public gathering on Ekadashi, Aashadi Ekadashi, Poornima, Deepawali, Dasera etc. Every year during Chaitra lakhs of people gather.

But at the time of Sheshti, which occurs once in a year is a special event. Hence many fold increase of congregation compared to other melas. The particular small stretch of river near temple was highly polluted, due to mass bathing and other polluting activities. The warm weather shall alter the photosynthesis rates, biodegradation and affect BOD, DO, pH etc. Recent Nath Sheshti at Paithan during 20^th March to 22^nd March 2006, drew about one lakh of pilgrims and had a few special aspects of interests from an environmental point of view.

Considering all the above aspects, it was decided to assess the changes in quality of river Godavari during Nath Sheshti.

Abstract

The groundwater targeting in hard rock aquifer systems is complex, because of the heterogeneity of the aquifer systems. The ground water mobility and stability in such aquifer systems varies because of the lithology, folded structures, fracture density, geomorphology, slope etc., These occur in various permutations and combinations and control the overall water holding and conducting capacity in different parts of the aquifer systems. Hence, one needs to analyse all the data so as to understand and bring out precise spatial models on the groundwater probability in hard rock aquifer systems. In the present study, the authors have carried out GIS based appraisals to understand the relation between the lithology and groundwater movement in hard rock aquifer systems of parts of Central Tamil Nadu covering 1300 sq.km. In the said study, GIS images were generated on the maxima zones of various aquifer parameters such as water level, width of aquifer depletion, transmissivity, permeability, specific capacity, storage co-efficient, optimum yield and recovery rate. These were overlaid with the lithology GIS image. Such an analysis has shown that, in general, the fissile hornblende biotite gneiss appears to have some control over the groundwater systems.

Introduction
The study of energy flow through the ecosystem is known as Ecological Energetic. Ecological Energetic is the scientific discipline that investigates the movement ofenergy within an ecosystem. The process of energy transfer that takes place within a food chain is referred to as energy flow. The functioning of all species in an ecosystem is dependent on the energy they derive from the energy flow. The ecosystemsustains itself and achieves stability through the process of energy transfer.
Energy Transfer/Flow
Solar energy is the primary source of energy that enters the food chain at the level ofproducers, which are plants. Through the process of  photosynthesis, plants utilize solar energy to transform it into chemical energy, which is then used to produce various components of plants such as leaves, flowers, fruit, branches, trunks, and roots. Plants are referred to as producers in the ecosystem because they have the ability to transformthe sun’s energy directly into their tissues, allowing them to thrive. Herbivores consume the plants as nourishment, so obtaining energy. A significant portion of this energy is expended on the metabolic processes of these organisms, including respiration, digestion, tissue growth, blood circulation, and body temperature regulation. Energy is also expended in activities such as foraging, seeking refuge,reproducing, and nurturing offspring. The predators rely on the herbivores as their source of food.

Remote sensing can be a useful tool in engineering geological investigations, particularly in the identification and characterization of geological features and hazards.

Some of the ways that remote sensing can be used in engineering geological investigations include:

Geological mapping: Remote sensing data can be used to create detailed maps of the geological features in an area, including rock formations, faults, and folds. This information can be used to identify potential hazards, such as landslides and rockfalls, and to plan engineering projects accordingly.

Landslide detection and monitoring: Remote sensing data, such as satellite imagery, can be used to detect landslides and monitor their movement over time. This information can help engineers to design and implement appropriate stabilization measures.

Ground deformation monitoring: Remote sensing techniques, such as Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR), can be used to detect ground deformation caused by geological processes such as subsidence, uplift, and faulting. This information can be used to identify potential hazards and plan engineering projects accordingly.

34. GEOPHYSICAL METHODS

This chapter gives important and useful methods for measurement of seismic signals.

Firstly a brief introduction of seismic signals is given. The P waves, S waves and L-waves are discussed in short.

The old methods of measuring seismic signals like mechanical geophones are replaced by electronic geophones. The discussion includes Electromagnetic type, Reluctance type, Capacitive type and pressure type of basic geophones. New methods of damping are included. New Recently developed amplifiers and filters are also included. Development in oscillographic elements and cameras are discussed. Other information includes, the recently reported Array Technology and Space Technology for measurement of seismic signals.

Introduction
Health patterns were impacted by environmental changes. Aspects of human health, including quality of life, that are influenced by environmental physical, chemical, biological, social, and psycho-social elements are collectively referred to
as environmental health (WHO). It describes the theory and practice of identifying, addressing, preventing, and managing environmental conditions that have a negative impact on the health of current and future generations.
The illness rickets is caused by the overcast atmosphere, which blocks off sunlight and prevents people from obtaining vitamin D from the sun. In Europe, the air quality that suppresses smoke and turns mist into smog is the cause of both lung cancer and chronic bronchitis. However, fair skin types with low pigmentation are more susceptible to skin cancer in bright sunlight. Cold and moisture have been linked to rheumatism. Ruminant animals get infections as a result of the absence of trace elements in the soil. Humidity and temperature have an impact on disease vectors. Malaria, yellow fever, dengue, encephalitis, filariasis, and other diseases are spread by mosquitoes.
Types of Diseases
The following is a classification of the primary illnesses that people suffer from:
• Deficiency diseases: These are conditions brought on by a person’s diet lacking in certain vital nutrients, such as vitamins, minerals, or amino acids. For example: Vitamin A deficiency, anemia, rickets, osteomalacia, and gum and tooth disorders.

Sustainable Development
Although the term “sustainable development” is frequently overused, it is essential to addressing a multitude of interconnected global concerns, including hunger, poverty, inequality, and environmental degradation.
Several environmental movements from previous decades gave rise to the concept of sustainable development. Major international gatherings, like the 1992 Rio Earth Summit, were crucial in advancing the cause of sustainable development. But it seems that progress toward sustainability has not been great up to this point.
Definition
A key objective of sustainable development is to achieve a reasonable and equitable distributed level of economic well-being that can be continuously perpetuated for many human generations. Sustainable development is defined as a pattern of social and
structured economic transmissions (i.e., development) that optimizes the economic and societal benefits available in the present without jeopardizing the likely potential for similar benefits in the future.
“Development that meets present needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs” is another definition of it.
Salient Aspects of Ecological Development
1. It takes equity into account between nations and continents, racial and socioeconomic groups, gender, and age.
2. It encompasses environmental requirements as well as social development and economic opportunities.

Introduction

A society constitutes of several social system and institution such as family, school, religion etc. Every activity of these social systems and institution affect our environment in some way of other. There are various factor bring changes in the society. They are biology, environment, psychology, culture, demography and technology. All these factors collectively contribute to the changes in our society.

Auguste Gomte the father of sociology - defined sociology as the science of society. Sociologist believes that one can study society and understand the laws of society by applying the tools of natural sciences. We need to understand the nature as environment, its nature of work and our interaction with it, to understand and improve the efficiency of working with the nature. The Global deterioration the humanity is facing today is unprecedented in the annals of human history. We are already facing grave, water crisis disasters of all kinds, food, energy and ethical crisis etc. The solution is not visible and may not be visible in near future too. Environmental pollution means contamination in water, air, and land due to the various human activities. Man exploits natural resources to earn more and more profits. Forest is being cut down, the land is spoiled, and the air is becoming fuel and water being polluted. So nature has lost its balance such a situation has leaded us to what can be called as Environmental crisis. The changing lifestyle of our society is one of the main reasons for this crisis.

But unplanned execution of work and excessive industrialization and many other human activities has brought us to an alarming stage. In the face to live a luxurious life style we have been destroying the natural ecological balance.

ABSTRACT

In order to assess the baseline environmental status in the PTK mines the comprehensive primary data collection / survey programme was undertaken during the period i.e. from April 2003 to June 2003. The environmental monitoring for ambient air quality, water quality, soil quality, noise levels, dust fall, traffic density, meteorology of the study area, etc was carried out. Detailed satellite image interpretation was carried out and thematic maps of the study area were prepared by visual interpretation using tone, texture variations from IRS –IC LISS-III – False Color Composite geo coded images. Digital image processing techniques (supervised classification) were used to classify land use, geology, geomorphology, and drainage pattern/ watersheds and soil cover of the study area. Detailed flora and fauna study was carried out in the study area comprising of core and buffer zones for identification of existing species. The description of baseline environment in the study area is given below.

The complex interplay of biotic, chemical, and physical forces that shape an organism’s structure and survival within an ecological community is known as its environment. The “backdrop” to the story of human history is the environment, which includes the “wilderness” that humans have not yet domesticated or subjugated, the “hinterland” that surrounds human settlements, and the habitats and resources that humans exploit.
Everything that exists naturally on Earth or in a particular place, both living and nonliving, is included in the natural environment. The lithosphere, crust, upper and lower mantles, inner and outer cores, and other layers make up the structure of the earth.
Every living thing, including non-living ones, interacts with every other thing constantly in its surroundings. People in particular need an environment to survive. Humanity and the environment are mutually dependent. The state of the environment is greatly impacted by human activity, and this has an effect on how our civilization is developing as a whole.

For the protection of all the factors of environment, laws were formed and amended from time to time as per the requirement. There are many acts according to the main factors and separate laws, for the enforcement. Also, the are some control acts, which can be implemented by states for the local environmental problems.

Introduction

The tropical evergreen forests of the Sahyadris or the Malnad region of Karnataka is one of the richest plant areas (“hot spots”) on earth and crucial to the oxygen supply of the world. More than 30,000 varieties of wildlife and plants and over 8,000 said to unique are reported to lie here. Unless reckless deforestation is halted soon, some scientists fear that within the next 100 years this virgin forest could become an arid wilderness.

Agriculture is one of the major age-old occupations of human beings providing food to the people and also supplies raw materials to a number of agro based industries. However the expansion of agricultural fields in the dense woody forest areas has brought about many environmental problems and thereby degraded the quality of environment in ecologically most sensitive areas like Uttar Kannada District. In India, agricultural practices are primarily based on the traditional system of intensive subsistence forming. It is also observed that more and more available area (forest) has been brought under cultivations to feed the population which has been growing at an alarming rate. The agricultural expansion and population growth, in forest areas of Uttar Kannada Districts have degraded the quality of environment.

Introduction

Lonar Lake, near Lonar town in the Buldhana District, India is not just the source of excitement for the visitors but also for the scientist community. Lonar is the third largest natural salt-water lake in the world, with a diameter of 1800 meter. Fredrickson, et al (1973) found that, about 50000 year back a massive meteor entered into the Earth’s gravitational forces ranging 60 meter long and weighing 2 million ton. It was racing at a speed of 25 kms per second towards the planet earth. When it struck the earth the energy released was equivalent to that released by six-megaton atom bombs. The impact was so severe that rocks from all sides came on the surface and reached the height of 20 meters. This impact left a massive crater 170 meters deep and with 1800 meter in diameter. Today it is natural salt-water lake.